Pediatric Dental Tips: Make Kids’ Visits Fun & Fear-Free

How to Make Pediatric Dental Visits Easier with Kid-Friendly Language and Tools

If you’ve ever struggled to get a nervous child through a dental appointment—or felt overwhelmed trying to juggle kids, tools, and concerned parents all at once—this episode is for you.

I recently sat down with pediatric hygienist An Chih Do on my podcast, better known as @thepediatricrdh, to talk all about her best tips for making dental visits a more positive experience for both kids and clinicians. From rethinking the language we use, to the ergonomic tools that make the process smoother, An Chih shares practical ideas that you can implement immediately.

One of her best tips? Use terms kids already know. For example:

• The air-water syringe becomes a "water fountain."

• The saliva ejector is a "crazy straw that wiggles."

• The cordless polisher is her " squishy spinbrush."

• She calls her scaler the "tooth counter" and her ultrasonic a "water flosser."

  
  

She explains why saying things like “drill” can increase anxiety—kids may imagine loud tools used on furniture instead of devices that keep their mouths healthy.

We also talked about the importance of:

• Cordless polishers (less scary, more ergonomic)

• Patient positioning cushions for better comfort and cooperation

• Colorful tools to make the experience feel playful (think bright saliva ejectors or air/water syringes)

• Managing parents while keeping kids calm

  
  

🎧 Listen to the full episode below for all of An Chih's practical, heart-centered advice:

Don’t forget to follow An for more pediatric hygiene wisdom at @thepediatricrdh on Instagram.